The NWCA All-Star Classic matchup at 133 lbs will be one of the most highly-anticipated of the entire event. Returning NCAA champion Lucas Byrd will take on Rutgers All-American Dylan Shawver in a rematch of familiar foes.
Nov 1, 6:00 PM CDT
After taking a year off due to injury during the 2023-24 NCAA season, Illinois' Lucas Byrd returned to competition for the best season of his college career. He started his 2024-25 campaign with a victory over All-American Nasir Bailey at the NWCA All-Star Classic and ended it with a 3-2 tie breaker win in the NCAA finals over returning finalist Drake Ayala. Byrd was 23-1 on the season and enters his final year of eligibility with a whole bunch of momentum.
Dylan Shawver enters his final season for Rutgers in search of a second All-American honor. He finished 7th at the 2024 NCAA Championships and was just one victory away from another AA placement in March. Shawver is fresh off his first appearance at the Senior World Championships. He represented Puerto Rico at 61kg in September and had a one-point loss to 5th place finisher Kum Hyok Kim of North Korea.
Match History
Despite competing at 133 lbs for several Big Ten seasons together, Byrd and Shawver have only met one time during their college careers. That meeting came in January of this year during an Illinois vs Rutgers dual. Byrd won the match 6-5, and both wrestlers demonstrated their abilities to score.
Shawver and Byrd's history dates back to 2018, before either was in college. These two met in an Ohio state final at 113 lbs in which Byrd secured the win to become just the second state champion for La Salle High School.
The match history between these two suggests that their All-Star Classic matchup has the potential to be highly competitive. Fans of Illinois, Rutgers, and NCAA wrestling at large should circle this as a must-watch bout.
Lucas Byrd discusses his progress and match history with Dylan Shawver
2025 NWCA All-Star Classic Men's Matchups
125: #4 Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech vs #5 Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh
133: #1 Lucas Byrd, Illinois vs #7 Dylan Shawver, Rutgers
141: #1 Jesse Mendez, Ohio State vs #7 Anthony Echemendia, Iowa State
149: #3 Lachlan McNeil, Michigan vs #5 Casey Swiderski, Oklahoma State
157: #4 Daniel Cardenas, Stanford vs #5 Ty Watters, West VirginiaÂ
165: #4 Hunter Garvin, Stanford vs #7 Max Brignola, Lehigh
174: #3 Simon Ruiz, Cornell vs #8 Lenny Pinto, Rutgers
184: #4 Jaxon Smith, Maryland vs #7 Zack Ryder, Oklahoma State
197: #3 Joey Novak, Wyoming vs #4 Stephen Little, Little Rock
285: #3 Yonger Bastida, Iowa State vs #4 Taye Ghadiali, Michigan
141: D2 Khyvon Grace, West Liberty vs D3 Mark Samuel, Roanoke
2025 NWCA All-Star Classic Women's Matchups
117: #1 Sage Mortimer, Grand Valley State vs #1 Christianah Ogunsanya, William PennÂ
138: #1 Zaynah McBryde, Life vs #1 Katie Lange, Grand Valley State
145: #1 Esther Kolawole, William Penn vs #2 Reese Larramendy, Iowa
160: #1 Latifah McBryde, Life vs TBD
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